Combined hog farrowing crate, house, and feeder



y 1952 5. w. JOHNSON COMBINED HOG FARROWING CRATE, HOUSE, AND FEEDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 24, 1949 INVENTOR, 4'0 "09/7 XX /Z&//J0/7.

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COMBINED HOG FARROWING CRATE, HOUSE, AND FEEDER Filed Sept. 24, 1949 July 8, 1952 e. w. JOHNSON- 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 dam INVENTOR, 'a/vazr ZA/Zi/zm/z i/Vd/my Y B o w 2 i i 0 w 8 I I 7 W M \V 4 w d. Y m 7 f m z flfl a K W, 71 7 W 7. u 5 1 Z u 6 *7 Ki M Z a y M 4 W y 7 l i g; M M E July 8, 1952 G. w. JOHNSON 2,602,419

COMBINED HOG FARROWING CRATE, HOUSE, AND FEEDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 24, 1949 Patented July 8, 1952 2,602,419 COMBINED Hoe FARROWING CRATE; noose, AND FEEDER I Gordon W. Johnson, Raytown, M5,, assignor. to a 7 Gordon Johnson Company, Kansas City, Mo

a corporation of Missouri 7 Application September 24, 19.49, serial'Naii-wzs This invention relates to new and useful mi provements'in devices for: the handlingand care of hogs, and has particular referenceto ho farrowing crates, houses and feeders.

The principal objectv of the present invention is the provision of a device of the character described comprising a box-like enclosure having certain of its walls movable and 'adapted to be.

positioned to form selectively ahog-farrowing crateyhouse, orfeeder;

' Another object is the'provision in a device of the characterdescribed, of a hog farrowing crate having "a central portion-of great enough height toaccommodate a sow and laterally extending portions of a height sufficiently small to prevent the entry of the sow, said side portions being adapted: to accommodate the newborn pigs to preventthe sow from killing them by lying or rollinggon them. v

A further object is the provision, in a hog farrowing" crate of the character-described, of meansfor adjusting the height of the entry to said. side portions, whereby the crate-may be adapted for use by sows of 'diiferent sizes;

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, ease and convenience of adjustment of the device for its various uses,. easy access to anyportionof the interior of the derice the provision of insulatin walls n p mi use ofithe vic in co d athe an v aptability for use as a sun shade in hot weather.

Withthese objects in View, as well as other objects whichwill appear in the course of the specification, reference will be-had to the draw.- ing-,. wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a combined hog farrowing crate, house,- and feeder embodying the present invention, with the parts thereof positioned to form a hog'farrowing crate. I Fig. :2, is a plan view of thedevice.

' isa' sectional view taken on line III'-.-III ofiFig. -2.

Fig. 4 is: a foreshortened horizontal. section on an enlarged:scale= taken on line IV-JV of Fig. 3'. "Fig..5-is' a left-end elevation of-the device: as shown '1. 'FigzLGi is a sectional view taken on line VIi-' V I of: Fig; v3.

jFig. 7iis..an.enlarged fragmentary section taken OIITlinB-"VILQVII of Fig. 2.

Fig; .8 is a fragmentary sectiontaken on line offF'ig. -7.' 'Figzie is a fragmentary section ta en on line IX-L-IX -OfTFig; '7.

7 Claims. (Cl. 119-16) Fig. 10 is. .a.fragmentary section taken on line X-.X-,of;Fig. 'l.. v a J V Fig.- 11 is anenlarged fragmentary section taken on line X[.-XI of-Fi '6. f

Fig, 12 is afragmentary. section takenhon line of Fig. 11.

Fig. l3 -is. a view similar to Fig. 6, showingthe walls, of-the device positioned to form. a, hog house:

Fig. 14 is a view sirnilar tofFigfifi showing-the wallsof the device: positioned. toform a feeder.

Like'reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the-numeral 2 applies toa planar rectangular floor. Said floor and also the side walls, cover, and end :doors hereinafter described, may be of anyv suitable material,:bu.t,wooden boards or planking is vpreferred, both for itsv economy and for its heat insulating properties; whichjpermits .the device to be,v usedeffectively in cold weather...."lhe planks forming the; floor 2 are bound, along each end-thereoflby asheet metal channel;4, secured to said. planks; by, any v suitable -means such a rivets v 1 a A sheet metal end-wall 8, rectangular in form, is secured alongits lower edge to eachof chane nels' 4 by welding or other suitable fastening, and said end-walls extend the full :width of floor 2. The vertical edge portions of said endewalls are-rolled to form reinforcing, beads lli,; and each ends-wall is reinforced along its upper edge by an outwardlyppening channel 12 welded or otherwiserigidly..'secured to the outer surface of said end-wall alon the upper edge thereof.

Fixed along each-longitudinal edge of fioor, 2, and extending between end walls 8 is a plank forming a short fixed side-wall l4.

-Formed centrally in each ofend-walls -8 is a door opening- IS extending fromthe top to the bottomgof saidiend-walls. Floor channels 4 and reinforcing channels 12' extend across said door opening and secure the Side-portiQnsofsaid end wallsin fixed relation. Saiddoor. openings are in a pair of confronting channels 22 welded tothe-inner surface of end-wallfBat the vertical edges of door openings l5. Channels 22 .also serve to reinforce said end walls adjacent the doors.

A pair of' transversely spaced-apart side-walls 24 extend longitudinally between end-walls81respectively at opposite sidest-o'f doors *l6, 1each wall sections 28 are angled outwardly to rest on the upper edges of fixed side-walls I4, and secured in position by inserting bolts HI in holes 12 of the end-walls S. From Fig. 12 it will be noted thatwith the side-walls in this position, lower side- 7 wall section 28'hangs with screws 64 in the upper horizontally and coaxially, one at each end of the wall section 26, and each bolt passes respectively through the binding channel 36 of the wall see tion, through a hole 34 in end-wall 8 and channel I2, and -a bearing sleeve 36, fixed to the outer surface of channel I2. Bolts 32 may be inserted also through holes 38, which are spaced vertically beneath holes 34, and'which are provided with bearing sleeves 40, for a purpose hereinafter appearing. The construction of these pivotal joints best appears in Figs. 7, 9, and 10.

Thus the upper side-wall sections 26 may be pivoted from a substantially vertical position against door channels 22, as shown in Fig;- 6, outwardly to a position substantially as shown in Fig. 13. Each wall section 26 is adapted to be secured in any of a plurality of angular positions by means of bolts 42. A bracket 44 is welded or otherwise rigidly secured'to each-end of wall section 26 adjacent the free edge thereof, and a bolt 42 passes through said bracket and selectively through one of holes 46, 48, or 56 provided therefor in the adjacent end-.wall 8.

A cover 52 comprising boards bound at the ends by channels 54 extends substantially the full length of the device and is of sufficient width to be supported on theupper edges of upper sidewallsections 26. End doors I8 extend upwardly as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, a pair of longitudinally extending hooks 58 are secured to the corners of cover 52. Said hooks xtend past the edges of dOOr I8 and engage loosely the upper flange of channel I2. Said hooks prevent lateral movement of the cover, and form a hinge permitting pivotal raising of said cover.

Each lower side wall section 28 is comprised of wooden boards or other suitable material bound at the ends of sheet metal channels 60, and ex:- tends longitudinally between end walls 8 It is pivotallyrjoined at its upper edge to the corresponding upper sidewall section 26 on an axis parallel to the pivotal axis of section 26. Said pivotal'joint, best shown in Figs. 11 and 12,,includes a pivot plate 62 secured rigidly to each end of wall section 28 at the upper edge'thereof and overlapping the ends'of wall section 26. A screw 64 passes through a slot 66 formed in said pivot plate, and is threaded firmly in wall section 26. Said slot is sloped in the plane of wall section 28 so that the crack between the wall sections 26 and 28 will always be closed, as will hereinafter appear. A bracket 68 is secured to each end of wall section 28 adjacent the free edge thereof, and a bolt passes therethrough and selectively through one of holes I2, (4,or I6 formed in the adjacent end-wall 8.

When the device is to be used as a farrowing crate, pivot bolts 32 of the side Walls 24 are inserted in holes 34, and upper side-wall sections 26 are pivoted to a substantially vertical position,

as shown in Fig. 6, and secured there by inserting .bolts 42 in holes 46 of the end-walls. Lower sideends of slots 66 in pivot plates '62, and there is virtually no-crack between the upper and lower wall sections for the entry of cold weather. In use either end door I8 may be elevated and the sow herded into the space between the side walls. The newborn pigs may move into the relatively shallow spaces underneath the lower side-wall sections 28. Since these spaces are too shallow for the sow to enter, the pigs are thereby rendered safe from death or injury caused from being lain or rolled on by the sow. cessible through either end door I 8 or through cover 52, and the pigs may be readily inspected or removed by raising wall sections 28 pivotally. If

desired, bolts Hi-securing wall sections in place may be omitted, and said wall sections will be held in place by gravity.

basic invention, include aback board lil extend ing transversely between upper side-wall, sections 26 adjacent one end of the device; The end portions of said board are disposed slidably in a .pair of channels disposed verticaly and fixed %re spectively to the inner surfaces of wall sections 26 by brackets 82 and bolts 84. The board may be dropped into position in channels 80 after the sow has been driven into position. It prevents the sow from backing up, and provides a passage by which the pigs may pass from one side of the device to the other. Both the board and channels 86 are detached by removing bolts 84 when the device is to be used as a house or a feeder. A feed trough 86 for containing feedand water for the sow may be removablyfixed to the floor 2 of theolevice adjacent the opposite end thereof, by means of brackets 88 and screws 96.

i For use when the sow to be confined is so small that she couldenter the spaces beneath lower wall sections 28, a pair of boards 32 are disposed respectively horizontally within the device parallel to side-walls 24 and at opposite sides of door openings I5. Each of said boards has one of its ends resting in a channel 94flxed to channel 80 which carries back board I8, and its opposite end resting in a channel 96 fixed toone of the door channels 22 at the opposite end of the device. Channels 94 and 96 are closed at their lower ends and boards 92 rest therein by gravity. Boards62 form in effect downward extensions of upper sidewall sections 26, but are spaced inwardly from said wall sections, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, so that they may be freely lifted from channels 94 and 96 when they are not required.

When the device is to be used as a house, feed trough 86, boards 92, back board I3, and channels 80 are removed. Bolts 42 and I0 securing the side-wall sections in position are removed, and pivot bolts 32 are removed and reinserted in the lower holes 38 in the end-walls 8, and upper sidewall sections 26 are pivoted outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 13. It will be noted that pivot bolts 32 are disposed adjacent the inner surfaces of wall sections 26 at the upper edge thereof, so that when said wall sections are pivoted outwardly, the upper edges of the-outer surfaces of said walls will be elevated. 1 Hence by lowering the pivot bolts asdescribed when the wall sections 26 are swung outwardly; the upper The sow is readily acatcoaci-co will support the cover 52 properly and without I tilting. v ThisoI course makes thei device weathertight to 'a g'reater extent. .The'lower si'dewall seetions are moved to a vertical position, "with 'tliei lo'wer-edges restingpn the upper edges-"of nx 'd-side wane 4. Due' to" the slope ofslots 6'6 in pivot plates 6 2, the outer e'dgdportions cf upperside wall sections' 2twvill rest 'firmly against "the upper edges "of lower side-wall sections =28. Tipper-wall sections 26 are= secured by inserting rbolts 12 'in holes 5 0 of theen'd wallsgandil'ow'er wall sections "2 8" are secured 'by inserting-bolts Till in'holes' l' l-iof theendiwalls. The device'i's then adapted for use'asa'house suitable for hogs and spigs of'a wide range-of size. Aceessmiayibe had thereto .11 either through end 1 doors I 8' or 'co verii. Ventilation in any desired amount, when the device is used either as a iarrowing crate or as a a house, may be provided either by raising doors I8 slightly, or by proppingcoveriz open.

-When .the (i'BViGBiS 'tUbB'USBd as a feedery'the upper side-wall sections are moved. toa downwardly and outwardly divergentposition, and the lower side-wall sections are moved to a downwardly- -%and inwardly convergent position, as s'hofwn' in Fig. -14,beings'eouredin said positions inserting bolts-42 in-holes-4'8: of the end-walls, and inserting-bolts- "Hlin holes 16 of the end-- walls? The 'lower edges of thelower side-wall sections -aredi-sposed in spaced relation above flofor 2,; and are spaced-inwardly-and downwardly from the upperedges of fixed side "walls l4. Cover 52 may be removed and feed poured into the space between the side-walls. The feed will then flow by gravity out on floor 2 outside of sidewalls 24, where it is accessible to animals feeding over the top of fixed side-walls l4. Walls l4 serve as lips preventing the feed from falling off the edge of the floor to the ground. A triangular sheet metal rib 98 may be secured to floor 2 along the midline thereof, and removably fixed thereto by means of screws I110. Said rib extends substantially the full length of the device, and serves to direct the feed outwardly toward the side walls.

Thus a device having great utility has been provided. A farmer having a plurality of these devices can use all of them as farrowing crates at farrowing time, and convert them to houses and feeders as the pigs grow older and the sows are taken away. The device is substantially weather-tight when used as a farrowing crate or a house, though it may be ventilated at will. The wooden walls provide good insulation against cold. In hot weather the side-walls can be, eX- tended horizontally and secured by any suitable means to form a sun shade. The end-walls and end fittings of the cover, side-walls, and floor may be shipped separately in a small space, and the lumber cut to fit on location, thereby affecting a valuable economy.

While I have shown a specific form of my invention, it is apparent-that many minor variations of construction and operation could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described comprising an elongated floor, upright end-walls fixed along their lower edges to the ends of said floor, short, fixed side-walls extending between said end-walls and extending upwardly from the edges of said floor,- a pair of spaced-apart movable side-walls extending between said end-walls,

each igioi lsaidlmovable .sideewallscomprising an upper :s'e'cti'on:.pivotedxatgits upper edge tosaid endr-twalls .pnianiaxissparallel to and spaced in? wardlyifrom ithezcorrespondinga edge; of :saidiioor 'andifa Zlower.rsectionzipivotally attached at :itsupper -ed'ge :tol'the': lower edge of its upper section 'on aniaxis para'lleltoisaidffloor, the 'pivctiof each upper: 'side-iwall isection being disposed adjacent th'eiinnensurface thereof whereby the upper edge oftheifouter surface of each upper wall section 'willibe elevated whenasaid upper wall sectioncis swung outwardlyifrom :a "vertical position, .sai'd pivot being adjustablegfdownwardly so that said upper' edg'e otf-the outerisurfa'ce. of said upper, wall section will remainrsubstantially at the same-elevationwhensaidlupperwall.sectiontis-swung out-.- wardly, a cover pivoted at one end to the upper edge of one of saidendi-walls andr supported-on the upper: edges of isai'd upperside-wall sections, andcmeans.:fonsecuring' said uppenand lower movable-iside walllsectionsinfixedrrelation to said end wa'llsl. r

' 21 device for the: character described-comprisingaian elongated floor, upright .end'ewalls. fixed -a' long their lower edges to: the::ends: of said floor; show-fixed side-walls extending between-said end -wallsand extending'upwardly fromthe edges :ofssaidfloor, a' pair oftspaced-apart movable side,- -walls 'fextendin'g- "between said end-walls; eachqof saidJmoVabIeiside -wall's comprising'an" upperzsec- -ti'on pivoted 1 at :its .upper' edge to said end-walls onfan axis parallelto and spaced :inwardlyfrom the'jcorrespondingiedge of said :floo'r andla lower section zpivotally attached at its upper; edge to Itherlower edge 'of said upper section onzanaxis parallel to said floor, the pivotal connection between said upper and lower side-wall sections being adjustable whereby said upper and lower wall sections will contact each other regardless of the relative position thereof, a cover, and means for securing said upper and lower side-wall sections in fixed relation to said end walls.

3. A device of the character described comprising a floor, opposite end-wallsfixed along their lower edges to said floor, each of said end walls having a door opening formed centrally therein, a vertically slidable closure door for each of said openings, respectively, a pair of spaced-apart parallel side-walls extending between said endwalls, each of said side-walls comprising an upper section pivoted at its upper edge to said endwalls on a horizontal axis disposed adjacent one side of said doors and a lower section pivoted at its upper edge to the lower edge of said upper side-wall section, means for securing said movable side-wall sections in various angular positions, and a cover extending substantially the length of the device and supported on the upper edges of said side-walls, each of said doors extending upwardly past the adjacent end of said cover and having a flange bearing against the upper surface of said cover.

4. In building construction, a pair of spaced, upright end Walls; a pair of spaced side walls spanning the distance between the end walls,

in a number of selected positions with the sections of each sidewall angularlydisplaced relatively and at differing angles.

upright end walls; a'pair of spaced side walls between the end walls, each including an upper section pivoted at its uppermost edge to the end walls and a lowermost section pivoted at its uppermost edge to the lowermost edge of the upper section, the upper sections being swingable'on the pivots thereof to and from a vertical position; means securing the uppersections to the end-walls in any one of a number of selected positions along the swinging paths of travel thereof, the lower sections being swingable relative to the upper sections; and means securing the lower sections to the end walls in any one of a number of selected positions .angularly, displaced relative to the corresponding upper section.

6. In building construction, a pair of spaced, upright end'walls; a pair of spaced side walls, each mounted at the'uppermost edge thereof to the end walls in spaced relationship to corresponding vertical edges of the end walls for outward swinging movement on a horizontal axis away from'a normal vertical position, and a lower section dc:-

including an upper section pivotallyr thereof.

pending from the upper section and hingedly,

able means for each lowermost section respec tively for securing the same in a number of selected positions along the swinging path of travel thereof extending=l2'iterallyv from the -,corr'espondlng upper section onreither of two sides 7. In'building construction; a pair of spaced, upright end Walls} a pair of spaced side walls spanning the distance between the end walls and each having a normally vertical uppermost sec;- tion; a top wall resting upon the uppermost edges of said uppermost side wall sections; and a pivot bolt at each end respectively of each of said side REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the rfile of this patent: 25 i UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 7 Name Date 472,622 Linkletter Apr. 12, 1892 730,275 Laswell June 9, 1903 751,961 Trone Feb. 9, 1904 1,236,237 Sturm June 19, 1917 1,361,660 Adix et al.- Dec. 7, 1920 1,439,157 Ford Dec. 19, 1922 1,920,568

Kling July 22, 1932 

